Music for a while shall all your cares beguile

Advent Calendar Day 17 – The Crown of Roses

Ah, the Russians! You can always rely on them for cheery music and uplifting lyrics! Today’s Advent piece is allegedly Tchaikovsky’s notion of a Christmas Carol. Myself, I would put it in Lent or maybe on Good Friday, but I’m no theologian, and if the Music Director thinks it’’s good enough for Christmas, then I think it’s good enough for Advent.

Besides, it’s gorgeous. I first sang this in Grade 4 or 5 – presumably in a different arrangement, but since I was a soprano at the time, that’s the part I have in my brain forever. But oh dear, those lyrics…. I mean, they really are beautiful, but for Christmas?

(incidentally, this is as close as you are going to get from me to anything by Rutter. He conducts this choir.)

Lyrics:

When Jesus Christ was yet a childHe had a garden small and wildWherein he cherished roses fairAnd bound them into garlands there.

Now once as summertime drew nighThere came a troop of children byAnd seeing roses on the treeWith shouts they plucked them eagerly.

“Do you bind roses in your hair?”They cried in scorn to Jesus there.The boy said humbly, “Take I prayAll but the naked thorns away.”

Then of the thorns they made a crownAnd with rough fingers pressed it downTil on his forehead fair and youngRed drops of blood, like roses, sprung.